Destination guide

Fly CO2 Neutral

Boarding your flight

Passport and security checks and boarding can take longer than expected. To prevent delays, we ask that you arrive at both the airport and the gate on time, especially during the busy holiday travel seasons.

On this page:

Boarding

The boarding time is shown on both your boarding card and on the various information screens throughout the airport. The gate number is also shown. Since the gate number can change, we recommend paying close attention to any announcements made and the information screens at the airport.

The amount of time prior to departure that boarding begins depends on the destination, the type of aircraft and whether or not security screening takes place:

Destination

Boarding from

Security screening at gate

Europe: ‘Schengen countries*’

40-30 minutes before departure

No

Europe: ‘non-Schengen countries*’

65-55 minutes before departure

Yes

Intercontinental

80-65 minutes before departure

Yes

* According to the Schengen Convention, residents of member countries may travel freely between and through these countries. Many European countries fall under the Schengen Agreement.

Hand baggage
Special rules apply to all hand baggage and the taking of liquids and tax-free items onto the aircraft.

Read more about your hand baggage>

SkyPriority
If you travel in KLM Business Class, or if you are a Flying Blue (or SkyTeam) Elite Plus member, you will be one of the first to board the aircraft. Just look for the red SkyPriority signs!

When does the gate close?

At Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, you can board up to 15 minutes before departure for all KLM Cityhopper flights and all intercontinental KLM flights. For all European KLM flights, the gate closes 10 minutes prior to departure.

At other airports, these times can differ. Please check the information screens at the airport carefully for the latest information.

If you arrive after the gate closing time, you will not be allowed onto the aircraft.

Please note: The gate closes at least 10 minutes earlier if the aircraft is not parked directly at the gate. We will ask you to go to the aircraft on foot or by bus if you depart from:

Get to your gate faster from Privium Parking P2 at Amsterdam Airport

Now you can get to your gate even faster after parking your car at Schiphol! Piers B and C can now be accessed using a footbridge from Privium Parking P2.

You can use the footbridge if you:

Are travelling in First or Business Class, are a Flying Blue or SkyTeam Elite member or a Privium traveller, and

Have already checked in online and are travelling with hand baggage only, and

Are travelling to a Schengen country.

The footbridge bypasses the Departure Hall, with only a security check to go through. The bridge can be used between the hours of 6:00 am and 10:00 pm. The bridge cannot be accessed from the arrival gates at Schiphol.